Yume

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
This small eatery and takeaway is billed as Japanese but in reality is an ethnic confusion. The owners are from Nanjing, the delightful young waiting lady and two chefs are also Chinese, two others are Japanese, one is Korean and, due to complicated franchise arrangements, they are required to continue offering kebabs - which makes for an unlikely combination. Until you see at one table an Asian woman tucking into noddles with chopsticks and her Caucasian partner munching a kebab.

But, apart from two of Hobart’s more up-market Japanese establishments, no one is offering a better range of quality sushi or a better-value sushi buffet than Yume. They’re also the first to introduce Hobart to bubble tea, flavoured chai with black ‘bubbles’ made from sticky rice powder, honey and other goodies, the latest popular hit in Japan. And among a menu selection of sashimi, tataki, excellent wontons, beautifully presented bento boxes and a great wakame salad you might find the night’s special is written in Chinese. If so, take a punt and order whatever it is. It’s designed for the large number of young Chinese who eat here and, on my experience, is often the most authentic and enjoyable Chinese dish in town

Graeme Phillips